The National tribune., 1887-06-02
NEW HOPE CHURCH.
A Pennsylranlan's Account of the YishHns rhsr

A PennsYlvanian's Account of the Fighting ThevA.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: There appears
to be considerable controversy through the
columns of your paper as to what troops par
ticipated in the battle of New Hope Church,
Burnt Hickory, Pumpkin Vine or Pieketts
Mills There were two battles fought in that
locality one on the 25th and one on the 27th
of May, 1854. The one on the 18th was fought,
/ believe, mainly by Williams's Division, of the
Twentieth Corps, aud might be called the bait
tie of New Hope Church; the one on the 9th
was fought considerably farther to the letb
probably five miles,, ON Burnt Hickory OK
Pumpkin Vine Creek, on which stream is 10
Gated Pckett's Mills This battle WAS fought
in the main by Woods Division, of the Fourth
Corps, and one brigade of Kings Division, Of
the Fourteenth Corps. My regiment belonged
to this brigade of Kings Division. We had
the right OF the brigade ON that day, and in
the battle were joined on the right by Willchs
Brigade of Woods Division. Some Of the 10TH
Ohio, of thar brigade, we're right among Us
during a part of the time. One Of them WAS
shot through the head and killed instantly,
lying by my side.
The ground in front Of part OF our regiment
was an open field. We lay along fence in the
edge Of the wood and after repulsiug the flst
charge of the enemy we carried the rails OF the
fence out into the field to higher and more
favO able ground and built kind of protection
for ourselves. It was while we were lying bS-
hind this rail barrieade that first noticed the
strangers among US. Upon asking what regi-
meut they were was informed it was the 18th
Ohio, Of Willich's Brigade. / recOlleet seeing
their Colonel. He was a small man, with black
hair and sharp black eyes, and fne-loOking
little fellow, apparently full Of sand" Going
into the fight we followed the sd Ind, they
being little to our right and front. The skir-
mishers L think belonged to Wiilich's Brigade.
We held the line ut the rail barricade until
long after dark and did not abandon the posts
tiOn until the line Of our army was well cstabs
lished in our rear. Our brigade at this time
was composed of the 18th Pa, 37th Ind. 2lse
and nth Ohio. Col Scrib0er. of the 35th lnds
was our brigade commander. / don't know
whether the two Ohio regiments were in the
fight or not, but 10 know that the 18th Pa.
and 9th Ind were, and lost heavily in killed
and wounded.
In your issue of April 81 COmrade De Land,
Co. ID. LIST Ohio, says he is positive that the
Fourteenth Corps had no part in the battle Of
the 9th. That is the very day that we claim
to have Fought don't care by what name
you call the battle. How does COmrade De
Land know what troops were on the left OF
Willich's Brigade, he being member Of Ha-
zen's Brigade? The fighting was terrific while
it lasted, and think ComTade De Land would
have his hands full looking after matters m
his own immediate front without travelling
half a mile down the line TO see what trOops
were there. As to Willichs bugles, must say
that they did not annoy us any. We had no
trouble in finding the enemy, and they found
US apparently without the aid of bugles or any
thing else.-W j. WRIGHT, Go. i, 18th Pa,
Rimer, Armstrong Co, Pa.